Use Keyboard Shortcuts (All Windows Versions)

Using your mouse isn't the only way to use Windows. Here's some of
the things you can do using just the keyboard:

Alt-Enter opens the highlighted file or folder's Properties dialog.

In Windows Explorer, highlight a folder and press
Shift-NumPadAsterisk to open the folder and all subfolders.

Click in Windows Explorer's details pane, then press
Ctrl-NumPadPlus to size each column exactly as wide as its largest
item.

To delete permanently, bypassing the Recycle Bin, highlight a file
or folder and press Shift-Del.

The Windows key brings up the Start menu, of course; but it does
quite a bit more when used in combination with other keys:

Win-D toggles between showing the desktop and restoring all windows.

Win-E invokes the Windows Explorer window.

Win-L locks your system until you enter your password--or lets you
switch active users, if you're using Fast User Switching.

Win-M minimizes all windows.

Win-R brings up the Run dialog.

Win-S, in Microsoft Word 2002 or later, invokes Windows'
text-to-speech engine, which will read either highlighted text or
everything from the cursor on.

Win-U invokes the Utility Manager, which controls accessibility
program options.

Win-Pause/Break brings up the System Properties dialog.

Missing the Windows key? Ctrl-Esc will bring up your Start menu,
though it won't allow you to use Windows-key combo commands like
those above.

You can create your own keyboard shortcuts to your programs by
right-clicking on their shortcut icons (in the Start menu or on the
desktop), then clicking in the Shortcut key field and pressing a
key. Ctrl-Alt-that key will now start the program. If you don't
want the Ctrl-Alt combo, you can press Ctrl-Shift-x, Shift-Alt-x,
or Ctrl-Shift-Alt-x instead. Take note that you can't use Esc,
Enter, Tab, Space, Print Scrn, Del, and Backspace - they are
reserved.